Surface mounted container opener



A. ANASTASIA 2,950,529

SURFACE MOUNTED CONTAINER OPENER Aug. 30, 1960 Filed May 15, 1959 Go 44- I6 46 24A 68 74 g Tag; 3

INVENTOR.

AA/G'EZ 0 ANASTAI/A Patented Aug. 30, 1960 URFAE MOUNTED CONTAINER OPENER Angelo Anastasia, 222 Edinburgh Ave, Monterey, Filed May 15, 1959, Ser. No. 813,573

Claims. (Cl. 30- 10) This invention relates to the general class of cutlery, and more specifically, the instant invention is directed to an improved surface mounted container opener for punching, puncturing or perforating the end walls of conventionally constructed cans and/ or other similar containers or receptacles.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to incorporate in a wall-supporter can opener, cutting, punching, perforating or puncturing means a mechanical movement for increasing the force required in carrying out the punching operation over the force applied thereto.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a fixedly mounted can puncturing device, wherein the puncturing element is made operable to penetrate an end of a conventional can by the pivotal movement of the can.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a can opener secured in a fixed position, the opener being operable by a can held in one hand of the user.

A further object of this invention is to provide automatically operating means for returning the component elements of the device to the respective inoperative original positions after use.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, the provision of a can puncturing device which is noncomplex in construction and assembly, inexpensive to manufacture and durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a can punching, puncturing or perforating device, constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the device illustrated in Figure 1, Figure 2 illustrating the component parts of the invention in their respective positions just prior to the operation thereof;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the device, Figure 3 being partly in cross-section and illustrating the relative positions of the component elements thereof at the end of the can punching, perforating and/ or puncturing operation; and,

Figure 4 is a detail cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now more specifically to the drawing, reference numeral designates, in general, a combined can and bottle opener device constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. The device 10 is seen to comprise an elongated substantially rectangular base plate 12 adapted for connection to a vertical wall 14 or suitable support surface by screw means 16 which extend through suitable openings formed therein adjacent its remotely disposed ends.

Integral with the plate 12 and projecting from the outer lateral side thereof is a dovetailed key 18 which terminates adjacent to but spaced from the aforementioned remotely disposed ends of the plate 12.

Reference numeral 20 generally denotes a substantially H-shaped housing having a pair of opposed laterally spaced and substantially parallel side walls 22, 24 separated by an integrally formed substantially rectangular web 26. The side walls 22, 24 are undercut at 28, to form a dove-tail channel 32. As is seen in Figures 2 and 3, the channel 32 terminates adjacent the upper end of the web 26 to provide a laterally protruding boss 34, the function of which will be described infra.

The U-shaped channel 36, formed by the web 26 and the side walls 22, 24, is continuous throughout the length of the device. Disposed within the channel 36 adjacent the upper end thereof is a leaf spring 38 having an outwardly bowed intermediate portion 40 and an end welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the web 26 as at 42. The free end 44 of the spring 38 is adapted for sliding engagement with the Web 26 as the bowed portion of the spring is flexed in a manner to be described below,

The upper ends of the side walls 22, 24 terminate in laterally extending side wall extensions 22A, 24A connected adjacent their free ends by a strengthening bight 43. As is seen in Figures 1 and 4, the free ends of the side wall extensions include a pair of laterally offset and diverging tongues 42, 44. Intermediate the adjacent sides of the bight 43 and the web 26, and supported on and extending between the side wall extensions 22A, 24A is a pivot pin 46 which also serves as a fulcrum in a manner to be more fully set forth as this specification proceeds. The side wall extensions 22A, 24A are formed, adjacent the bight 43, with outwardly opening notches 48, 50 and comprise bottle cap removing means, and inwardly of the notches the side wall extensions 22A, 24A are formed with transversely extending slots which are inwardly and downwardly inclined, theslots 52, 54 providing guide means the function of which is to be explained. The longitudinal major axis of the guide slots 52, 54 are inclined at acute angles with respect to the web 26.

The can opening operating lever of the device 10 is designated by reference numeral 56 and is seen to comprise a concave-convex lower end portion 58 having its concave side facing outwardly. The upper end of the portion 58 is integral with a substantially U-shaped channel section having a substantially fiat bight 60 from the longitudinally extending marginal edges of which project a pair of laterally spaced and substantially parallel side walls 62, 64. The upper end of the bight 69 is bent laterally to give rise to an arm 66 substantially normal thereto, the arm 66 terminating in a triangular can piercing member 68 which depends therefrom at an obtuse angle with respect thereto.

The upper end of the operating lever 56 is disposed between the side wall extensions 22A, 24A with the side walls 62, 64 juxtaposed with respect thereto. In this position, the bight 60 is engaged by the bowed portion 40 of the spring 38 which biases the lever 56 in a direction away from the web 26 so that the upper ends of the side walls 62, 64 engage against the fulcrum and pivot pin 46. This assembly is maintained by means of a guide pin 70 which extends through the side walls 62, 64 and projects beyond the remotely disposed sides thereof for sliding engagement within the guide slots 52, 54.

The housing 20 together with its operating lever 56 is detachably connected to the base plate 12 by telescoping the lower end of the dove-tail channel 32 downwardly over dove-tail key 18 until the boss 34 engages against the upper end of the key 18 to limit the further downward movement of the housing 20 relative to the base plate 18.

To utilize the above described device and referring especially to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that under the influence of the spring 38 the lower end portion of the operating lever 56 has been pivoted in'a'counterclockwise direction away fromithe base plate" 1 2. Reference numeral 72 irefers to a conventional can, container or other receptacle having an endwall 74 which is to be punched, cut or otherwise opened to provide means 76 to permit the canrcontents to be dispensed therefrom. 7 V r r r v r V The, end wall 74 is now engaged by the pointed tip of the can piercing member 68 at a point spaced inwardly from the outerperiphery thereof and the tongues '42, 44 engage below the beaded edge 78. The lower end of the can is then engaged'in the concave side of the lever 56 and the operator exerts a 'force thereon to cause thetlever' 56 to pivot' about the pin 46 in a clockwise direction. 'As the lever, 56pivot's about the pin 46 the i lever shifts downwardlytand laterally towards the 'base plate '12 against the tension of'the spring 38. 'This movement takes place as the pin 70 is forced to :move downwardly in the guide slots 52, 54,, and in so moving the piercing member 68 penetrates and cuts the 'wall 74 and crimps the underlying adjacent portion thereof towards the side wall of the can' or container 72' to provide the dispensing opening 76. f

Upon disengaging the piercing member 75 from the cam 72 and from the lever 56, the 1ever56, returns to its original position as shown in'Figure 2 under the'influence of the spring 38; V

Either one or both of notches 48, 50 may receive a bottle cap therein to be removed from the bottle by the conventional pry type leverage.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention in detail, it will be understood that the same is offered merely by way of example, and that this 7 invention is to be limited only by the scope of the append ed claims.

What is claimed is: p

1. A can punch for cans having a pair of opposed ends including an end wall adjacent one end of said can and a peripheral bead proximate thereto, said punch comprising an elongated housing including a pair of laterally spaced'side walls each having an ofiset tongue at a pair of adjacentends thereof for engagement beneath said bead, a fulcrum and'pivot pin extending between,

and supported on said side wallsiadjacent to but spaced inwardly from said tongues, each of said side walls having a guide slot formed therein and extending at an acute anglewith respect to the longitudinal axis of said housing,'an elon'gated operating lever extending longitudinally of said housing between said side walls, means mounted on said lever, and extending into said slots pivotally'and peripheral head on said'can proximate to said one end' wall, 'said punch comprising an elongated housing including a pair of laterally spaced side walls each having an offset tongue at a pair of adjacent ends there'of fo'r engagement beneath said bead, a fulcrum and pivot pin extending between and supported on said side walls adjacent to but spaced inwardly from said tongues, each of said side walls havinga guide slotlfor'med'therein and extending at an acute angle with respect to the longi tudinal axis of said housing, an elongated operating lever extending longitudinally of said housing between said side walls, means mounted on said lever and extending into said slots pivotally and slidably supporting said lever on said side walls for movement towards and away from said tongues, said lever having a portion thereof pivotally and slidably engaging said fulcrum and pivot pin, said lever having an arm substantially normal thereto and a piercing member depending therefrom adjacent said tongues, said piercing member being adapted to engage and pierce said end wall of said can when the other end of said can is forced against said lever, and said arm normally extending over and beyond said tongues whereby said piercing member engages against said end wall of said can at a point spaced inwardly from said head.

3. A can punch comprising a housing including a pair of laterally spaced and substantially parallel side walls and an integrally formed web extending therebetween, a fulcrum and pivot pin mounted on and extending between said side walls on one side of said web, each of said side walls having an offset tongue adjacent said fulcrum and pivot pin, each of said sidewalls having, a guide slot formed therein having a major axis inclined at an acute angle with respect to said web, an operating lever comprising an element havin g a concave-convex end portion integrally formed with a second end portion substantially U-shaped in configuration, a pin extending through said U-shaped channel end of said handle and projecting beyond the remote sides thereof for engagement within said slots, said second end of said operating lever having a portion thereof normally engaging against said fulcrum and pivot pin, said second portion of said operating lever having an arm integrally formed therewith and projecting substantially normal with respect thereto, said arm being disposed over said tongues and projecting therebeyond, and said arm terminating in 21 depending piercing member. 7 i V 4. A can punch comprising an elongated housin 'Said housing including a pair of laterallyjspaced substantially parallel and confronting side walls integrally connected centrally thereof by a web, means limiting the movement of said housing downwardly relative to said base plate, .an operating lever including a lower concave-convex portion integrally connected at its upper end with a sub stantially U-shaped channel section, said channel section including a pair of laterally spaced substantially parallel side walls interconnected by a bight, said U-shaped channel section being disposed between said side walls, each of said sidewalls having elongated slots formed therein 'with the major axis thereof inclined at an actue angle with respect to said web, a pin extending through saidside walls of said U-shaped'section and slidably and 'pivotally'engaging withinsaid'slots, a fulcrumand pivot pinextend-j ing between and supported on said side walls of said housing adjacent the upper ends thereof and proximate to said slots, said'side walls of said U-shaped channel member being adapted to engage against said fulcrum' and pivot pin, said bight continuing' into an'int'egrally connected normally oifset arm disposed above said'tongues and projecting therebeyond, the outer end of'said arm terminating in a substantially triangularly shaped can piercing membenj V a 5. A can punch as defined in claim 4, and resilient means fixedly secured to said web and engaging against said bight to constantly urge said lever for movement towards said tongues. a

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

